Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center announced a major partnership Tuesday with Hartford HealthCare Medical Group. Hartford HealthCare will be the first member of Memorial Sloan-Kettering's new Cancer Alliance. The alliance will bring the expertise of MSK's physicians and research team to oncology providers in the Hartford HealthCare system.
Dr. Craig Thompson, President and CEO of Memorial Sloan-Kettering, says the alliance is in part a response to a recent report by the Institute of Medicine that described the delivery of high quality cancer care a "national crisis." "At MSK, we've been looking for novel ways to address this crisis," said Dr. Thompson. "The MSK alliance with Hartford HealthCare is an enormously positive step in that direction."
Physicians and administration from both organizations will collaborate on cancer care and clinical research programs. MSK's Dr. Jose Baselga says this partnership means Connecticut cancer patients will now have access to MSK's many ongoing clinical trials.
Officials from both Hartford HealthCare and Memorial Sloan-Kettering say they will spend the next six months assessing the resources and capabilities of both institutions, and integrating Hartford physicians into MSK's disease management teams.